The book examines the themes of cultural values, collective identity, political ideologies, and Korean cultural traditions throughout Korean language textbooks from the last 120 years. Through this analysis, the author explores the colonial, neo-colonial, and postcolonial contexts that have influenced South Korea. This work demonstrates the significant impact of textbooks and how political leaders make use of school curricula to legitimate their regimes.
Intended as a companion to the popular KLEAR Textbooks in Korean Language series and designed and edited by a leading Korean linguist, this is the first volume of its kind to treat specifically the critical role of language in Korean culture and society. An introductory chapter provides the framework of the volume, defining language, culture, and society and their interrelatedness and presenting an overview of the Korean language vis-à-vis its culture and society from evolutionary and dynamic perspectives. Early on, contributors examine the invention and use of the Korean alphabet, South Korea’s "standard language" vs. North Korea’s "cultured language," and Korean in contact with Chinese and Japanese. Several topics representative of Korean socio-cultural vocabulary (sound symbolic words, proverbs, calendar-related terms, kinship terms, slang expressions) are discussed, followed by a consideration of Korean honorifics and other related issues. Two chapters on Korean media, one on advertisements and the other a comparative analysis of television ads in Korea, Japan, and the U.S., follow. Finally, contributors look at salient features of the language, narrative structure, and dialectal variation. All chapters are accompanied by a set of student questions and a useful bibliography. A beginning level of proficiency in Korean is sufficient to digest the Korean examples with facility, making this volume accessible to a wide range of students. Contributors: Andrew S. Byon, Sungdai Cho, Young-A Cho, Young-mee Y. Cho, Miho Choo, Shin Ja J. Hwang, Ross King, Haejin Elizabeth Koh, Jeyseon Lee, Douglas Ling, Duk-Soo Park, Yong-Yae Park, S. Robert Ramsey, Carol Schulz, Ho-min Sohn, Susan Strauss, Hye-Sook Wang, Jaehoon Yeon.
This book investigates the politics embedded in the Korean-language textbooks utilised between 1895 and 2019, within the context of one Korea (pre-colonial and colonial eras), the divided Koreas, and an ethnic Korean group residing in Japan (Chongryon). By analysing the inclusions and omissions from Korean-language the author successfully highlights the impact of Korean politics, making clear how rulers have attempted to control their citizens and legitimize their rule by using primary school Korean-language textbooks as a medium for political education and inculcation. It succinctly displays how different visions of ‘ideal citizenship’ have been presented in Korea and traces the resulting shift in views towards neighbouring nations as a result, identifying how different rival countries were demonized at different times. This chapter also shows some consistent omissions, such as the lower classes and marginalized individuals within their respective nations. Presenting recommendations for potential improvements of the content of future textbooks this study will be of interest to students of Asian Studies, Post-colonial Studies, Critical Curriculum Studies, Critical Discourse Studies, and Korean Studies.
Forty years of rapid industrialization have transformed millions of South Korean peasants and their sons and daughters into urban factory workers. Hagen Koo explores the experiences of this first generation of industrial workers and describes its struggles to improve working conditions in the factory and to search for justice in society. The working class in South Korea was born in a cultural and political environment extremely hostile to its development, Koo says. Korean workers forged their collective identity much more rapidly, however, than did their counterparts in other newly industrialized countries in East Asia. This book investigates how South Korea's once-docile and submissive workers reinvented themselves so quickly into a class with a distinct identity and consciousness. Based on sources ranging from workers' personal writings to union reports to in-depth interviews, this book is a penetrating analysis of the South Korean working-class experience. Koo reveals how culture and politics simultaneously suppressed and facilitated class formation in South Korea. With chapters exploring the roles of women, students, and church organizations in the struggle, the book reflects Koo's broader interest in the social and cultural dimensions of industrial transformation.
This book describes the structure and history of the Korean language, ranging from its cultural and sociological setting, writing system, and modern dialects, to how Koreans themselves view their language and its role in society. An accessible, comprehensive source of information on the Korean language, Lee and Ramsey's work is an important resource for all those interested in Korean history and culture, offering information not readily available elsewhere in the English-language literature.
This book was written for those who are going to teach Korean culture. Perhaps couple of questions will follow this statement, such as 'Should we learn Korean culture?', 'What's the purpose of learning Korean culture?' or 'Who is teaching and who is learning?', etc. We would like to answer to these questions as follows. We should learn Korean culture if we are to properly know about Korea. Also, we should learn and get familiar with Korean culture if we want to correctly learn Korean language. Furthermore, we should know about our own Korean culture in order to build up the capability of understanding other cultures which are not ours. That is, people should know about Korean culture in advance in order to understand Korea and Korean language correctly, and should learn and know Korean culture in order to correctly understand foreign cultures. Here the person who wants to know about Korea can be either a Korean or a foreigner. Of course, most of the people who want to learn Korean language might be foreigners. Also, If he or she wants to learn Korean culture, he or she can be either a Korean or a foreigner. With respect to culture education, if we call the people who teach about Korean culture 'Korean culture teachers', then the people who learn Korean culture can be called 'Korean culture learners.' Here it is not so important whether the Korean culture learner can command Korean language or not. This is because the education of Korean culture can be given by either Korean language or the learner's language. Then, what are the capability and quality required for the Korean culture teachers. What is mostly necessary for them is the capability to interpret the past·present·future of Korea and the phenomena which can be observed in each time frame. Also the teachers need to acknowledge and accommodate foreign cultures and have the capability of objectifying their own culture and comparing it with foreign cultures. Finally, they should get familiarized to the basic teaching technique that is to propose the contents of education which fit to the level and requirement of the learners. Therefore, the teaching materials for the Korean culture teachers should include 'Contents of Korean culture' for teaching, 'Method for developing teacher's capability', and 'Applicable teaching materials'. In this regard, we explored various sides of Seoul in its history and integrated tons of materials to provide cultural contents in this book under the theme of 'Change of Korea', where we could find out the hidden causes of the change through our conversation. And finally, based on the contents described above, we provided teaching materials which can be used for in-situ culture education.
"South Korean Business Culture" provides a thorough exploration of the intricate dynamics influencing business conduct in South Korea. Emphasizing the significance of etiquette in contemporary society, the book underscores the role of good manners in opening doors and fostering opportunities. It elucidates how etiquette, deeply rooted in cultural values, serves as a practical framework guiding interactions and nurturing effective and respectful relationships in a world marked by diverse cultural intersections. Specifically tailored to the South Korean business context, the book delves into the importance of understanding and respecting cultural values and societal norms that shape business interactions in the nation. It offers practical insights into navigating bowing, mastering the concept of 'Jeong,' and employing effective negotiation tactics, while also highlighting the crucial role of nonverbal communication in business settings. Moreover, the book delves into the historical underpinnings that have significantly influenced contemporary business practices in South Korea. By tracing key historical milestones, such as the division of the Korean Peninsula after World War II and the subsequent economic transformation following the Korean War, the book provides essential insights into the nation's socio-political and economic evolution. It also examines the historical achievements in education and science, showcasing South Korea's longstanding commitment to knowledge and innovation. The historical influences of religion, particularly Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism, are also explored, shedding light on the ethical and moral values that guide business interactions in the country. By offering a comprehensive understanding of these historical and cultural factors, "South Korean Business Culture" equips readers with the knowledge necessary to navigate and cultivate successful business relationships in South Korea's dynamic business landscape.
